Thanks so much for visiting the site!
I’m Sondra, and I believe I came into this world to be a “helper.” I began working in allopathic medicine after high school at the age of 18 as a medical assistant. I later went on to study respiratory therapy and then on to nursing, but it was in my search for answers to symptoms I was having which steered me away from mainstream medicine to seek out alternative modalities in complementary medicine, particularly in the modalities of reflexology, reiki, and massage.
My path in complementary medicine education began when I saw the wonderful outcomes in which Britain’s Sally Kay was having in lymphedema patients utilizing Reflexology Lymph Drainage — this protocol has proven beneficial for many with lymphatic dysfunction. This was the spark I needed to embrace therapies beyond allopathic medicine, therapies which could benefit those with lymphatic disorders and other chronic diseases. Since that time, I’ve been fortunate to study foot, hand, ear and facial reflexology under several National Council for Reflexology Educators, including the late Cheryl Speen of the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Chantel Lucier, and Ralph Richey. I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with Ralph and complete the Reflexology Institute of Arizona program, one of only five schools in the US to achieve NCRE-approved reflexology curriculums.
My focus has gone beyond nursing to embrace modalities to assist the mind/body/spirit. I work primarily as a massage therapist drawing from eastern and western modalities, along with energy work, to address the issue of dis-ease. I am a certified instructor with both Empowered Relief® and the Myofascial Energetic Length Technique® and in the near future will also be offering these classes to assist people to gain a better level of wellness in the life they want to live.
My concentration has been in learning modalities which affect and improve lymph function, fight inflammation, and control pain, and to that end I’ve also studied digital auriculotherapy, reiki, Ayurvedic head massage, Thai foot massage, therapeutic massage, and sound and vibration. I am an instructor for Empowered Relief®, a hand and foot instructor for Myofascial Energetic Length Technique®, and a certified therapist in manual lymph drainage with Klose Training.
As a graduate of the Arizona School of Medical Massage and Wellness (ASMMW), I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to train under several Certified Medical Massage Practitioners, including Tammy Roecker, Kristi Tidwell, and Richard Abisia. ASMMW is the first medical massage school in Arizona, and this 700-hour program has been approved by the Arizona Medical Board, a first in the US.
In addition to education in therapeutic massage, I have completed over 650 additional credit hours through ongoing continuing education in complementary and alternative modalities. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support others on their healing journey as they navigate their path to improved health and wellness.
Education
Diplomas and Certifications
Medical Massage Therapy, Diploma
Arizona School of Medical Massage and Wellness, Peoria, Arizona
Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist
Klose Training, Lafayette, Colorado
Hand & Foot Instructor, Myofascial Energetic Length Technique®
Sue Hitzmann, New York, New York
Empowered Relief® Certified Instructor
Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
Clinical Reflexology Practitioner
Reflexology Institute of Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona
NCRE Approved Reflexology Curriculum
Reflexology Practitioner
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe, Arizona
Holy Reiki® Master Teacher
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe, Arizona
Aesthetics Program, Diploma
B5 Beauty School, Mesa, Arizona
Practical Nursing, Diploma (Honors)
Northland Career Center, Platte City, Missouri
Respiratory Therapy, Diploma (Honors)
Concorde College, Kansas City, Missouri
Certificates and Continuing Education
Myoskeletal Mobilization Massage
Erik Dalton Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques® Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Burn Scar Massage
Jen Hartley, Leesburg, Georgia
AcuPoint Reiki
Jackie Segers, Auckland, New Zealand
SpinaReiki Method™
Jackie Segers, Auckland, New Zealand
Medical Massage Practitioner
LMT Success Group, Boynton Beach, Florida
Sound, Vibrations and Frequencies as Massage Tools
Cupping Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Herbalism for Self-Care and Massage Therapy
Tucson Massage CE Institute, Tucson, Arizona
Introduction to Essential Oils
American Massage Therapy Association, Tucson, Arizona
Aromatherapy for Mental Health
American Massage Therapy Association, Tucson, Arizona
Holy Fire® III Reiki, Levels I and II
Infinity Healing, Vail, Arizona
Auriculotherapy Practitioner
Auckland School of Reflexology, Auckland, New Zealand
Indian Head Massage Practitioner
Auckland School of Reflexology, Auckland, New Zealand
Reflexology Lymph Drainage Practitioner
Sally Kay, Newport, Wales
Shamanic Wheel of Life
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe, Arizona
Sound Healing for Bodyworkers
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe, Arizona
Thai Foot Massage
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe, Arizona
Biology Major, Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, Louisiana
Pre-nursing Major, Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana